Degree Specialization inEMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

Emergency situations happen, and we need to be prepared for them. When one does arise, will you be prepared to arrive on scene, or work behind the scenes, and help keep those around you safe?

In today’s world, replete with threats of terrorism, drastic weather, and manmade hazards, there’s a growing demand for emergency management professionals -- including safety directors, emergency specialists, consultants, analysts, and first responders -- who are prepared to handle a variety of situations.

As the first and only university program to offer FEMA Independent Study (IS) certification courses, the Emergency Management specialization provides you with a curriculum that focuses on mitigation, preparedness and technology, response and recovery, and integrated emergency management. You’ll emerge from this program knowing how to identify potential hazards and how to create and execute response plans, as well as how to minimize the impact of disasters.

This specialization consists of five lower-division online Emergency Management courses for a total of 15 credit hours.

• EMG300: Foundations of Emergency Management

  In this course, the student will explore the global view of emergency management. Students will study the disciplines of emergency management and communication within the context of historical events through examination of case studies of natural and man-made disasters. It introduces students to concepts and challenges of crises operations. Additionally, topics include exploration of the connections between national-level policy and state-level programs that emphasize the development of integrated plans. Finally, the course combines lessons learned from historical events with emergency management concepts to improve preparedness and minimize the effects of future hazards and threats. (This course is also offered through CBE. Credits earned using this option will appear on transcripts with an “EX” suffix.)

• EMG325: Hazard Mitigation

  In this course, students focus on mitigation, or actions taken that reduce or eliminate hazard risks to citizens and property. It also addresses how this is an ongoing phase in which communities continually pursue mitigation efforts through thoughtful planning and effective leadership. Additionally, methods will be presented on how emergency management personnel can attempt to influence human behavior during a crisis. Finally, mitigation activities such as planning, strategizing, and implementation of action items will be explored.

• EMG375: Disaster Response

  In this course, students explore disaster response as an action taken immediately before, during, or directly after an emergency occurs, to save lives and minimize damage to property. Topics include disaster, response activities, warning people of severe weather, evacuating those considered to be at risk, and sheltering the affected population. It also explores providing emergency medical care, relaying information to the public, and managing the arrival of donations and volunteers. (This course is also offered through CBE. Credits earned using this option will appear on transcripts with an "EX" suffix.)

• EMG400: Disaster Recovery

  In this class, students will examine disaster recovery as the last phase of the ongoing emergency management cycle of mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. It focuses on the complex process that involves the whole community of public, private, and non-governmental organizations to restore the community back to normal. The recovery process can take months and sometimes years to complete. Students also learn about community leaders and identify the stakeholders and the components of the recovery process, the community develops a recovery plan that describes the short-term and long-term goals to achieve restoration and healing after the disaster. (This course is also offered through CBE. Credits earned using this option will appear on transcripts with an “EX” suffix.)

• EMG450: Comprehensive Emergency Planning

  Emergency planning at the local, state, and federal levels of government has evolved since 1900. In the last 114 years, the population and disasters have increased that caused some social populations to experience more suffering than others. The outcry from the multitude of disaster affected populations directed the public’s attention to the focusing event. Emergency management at all levels of government evaluated the risks, policies, emergency plans to improve planning and response efforts, and provide sufficient resources. Local communities evaluated their risks, the vulnerable populations, and resources to improve their emergency plans. Natural and man-made disasters have greatly diversified and increased in magnitude that require continual evaluation of policies and emergency plans. (This course is also offered through CBE. Credits earned using this option will appear on transcripts with an “EX” suffix.)

A Specialization in Your Bachelor’s Degree

Add an area of focus to your degree that can help you stand out to future employers.

• B.S. in Accounting
• B.S. in Business Management
• B.S. in Communication
• B.S. in Criminal Justice
• B.S. in Healthcare Administration and Management
• B.S. in Human Resource Management
• B.S. in Human Services
• B.S. in Information Technology
• B.S. in Interdisciplinary Professional Studies
• B.S. in Management Information Systems and Business Analytics
• B.S. in Marketing
• B.S. in Organizational Leadership
• B.S. in Project Management